Teaching students healthy food habits

One in four children aged 4–15 years old is overweight in Australia, according to Australian Institute of Health and Welfare data.

To help combat this issue, the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation is now working in more than 1000 schools and early childhood services, reaching children in every Australian state and territory.

General Mills Australia has announced its continued support of the Foundation, providing a grant of over $100,000 to teach healthy food habits to the next generation of Australian school kids.

Since 2001, the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation has provided the Kitchen Garden Program, which focuses on pleasurable food education. Teaching children the joy and importance of preparing nourishing food through a hands-on and curriculum-linked approach, the Kitchen Garden Program aligns sustainable and healthy living principles outlined by the United Nations (UN) and World Health Organization (WHO).

General Mills ANZ Managing Director Matt Salter said supporting the Kitchen Garden Program is a meaningful way to help Aussie kids establish healthy eating habits, while sharing the joy of food.

“At General Mills, we believe that every individual, family and community should be food secure and free from hunger,” Salter said.

“The Kitchen Garden Program does a fantastic job in teaching young Australians how fresh produce gets from the paddock to the plate, providing them with lifelong food preparation skills. Plus, it’s all about fun! Bringing joy to the table is something General Mills prides itself on. More than 97% of students who participate in the Kitchen Garden Program say they feel excited to go to school when the program is running. We know it works, which is why we’re proud to support the program for a third year.”

The Chair of the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation, Ian Sanders, said the grant from General Mills will go a long way in supporting its food education program.

“Our vision is to help every Australian child form positive food habits, for life,” Sanders said.

“The critical funding provided by General Mills will go towards building kitchen and garden infrastructure in schools in low socio-economic areas, ensuring the Kitchen Garden Program reaches even more Aussie kids.”

Image credit: iStock.com/JohnnyGreig